Integrated device for opening and closing cans with deformation-resistant can lids

ABSTRACT

An integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid to allow partial emptying of its contents and subsequent closing of a container, with a partial lid to be taken off as an integral part of the container&#39;s lid, delimited the partial lid by a circumscribing scoring line and with a lever for the opening of the partial lid joint together with the lid by centered riveting or similar known technique, where the lever includes a riveting end provided with a tear-off extension presenting a fold towards the lid whereas the other end includes a handgrip with an upper covering of the partial lid and a partial lid including two connections towards the lid of the container and presenting a non-deformable surface.

FIELD

The present invention refers to an integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, of those that can be used to cover pouring-orifices in containers that have been opened detaching a part of its original lids to allow partial emptying of its contents.

By way of example situations of such requirements to cover orifices in order to store product leftovers because of partial emptying are before all caused by progressive product consuming like condensed and sweetened milk, carbonized refreshing drinks in metal or plastic cans in relation to the area of foodstuff consuming apart from effervescent, volatile, caustic or corrosive, thick liquids, etc., in the product area for human consuming not necessarily related to food, like eg. the pharmaceutical or beauty products, but as well as products destined to industrial or household cleaning furthermore the supply of greasing liquids for vehicle engines or stationary machines, regarding the care of street furniture, etc.

The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, aim of the invention, specifically can be used to cover pouring orifices of containers and to allow a partial emptying of its contents by pouring out, specially for cans with a circular base.

BACKGROUND

So far there are only known devices for closing to be used by a thread shutter or by pressure on a component part that covers the whole diameter of the surface of the opening end of a can or tin. Generally, a circular shaped piece of a semi-soft plastic material is used, superimposing its ring-side externally on the side wall of the can or tin, or a tin lid with a thread. Usually this also is the solution, in case partial opening closure devices for opening off the can or tin are applied.

Examples of products whose wrappings open totally or partially on one side as a pouring hole are first of all the already mentioned condensed milk as well as soft drinks in aluminum cans wherein at least the first ones dispose of a lid for their closure although not in all countries of their marketing, whereas in the sector of soft drinks offered in aluminum cans with partial hole in their lids a lid added to them on the production side not usually can be detected. As a general rule there have to be used plastic lids sold as accessories not being specifically part of the containers whose holes one wishes to cover in order to cover and store product remnants.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,137 A from May 9, 2000 (Westwood), U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,635 A from Dec. 25, 1990 (Levine), U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,099 A from Jun. 6, 1987 (Wells) or U.S. Pat. No. 2,012,012,586 A1 (Rinderer) use elements of the present patent description however do not use longitudinal braces to strengthen neither in the problem definition nor for the solution in the beverage cans sector in their technical status description.

Without doubt there doesn't exist any device for partial opening and closing offering a solution for the possibility to cover the partial pouring orifice in the lid of the container, allowing the dosed pouring out of the product, being constituent part of it and not only a simple accessory.

Therefore, there is a need for an integrated device for partial opening and closing of cans with flow-dosification, for the possibility of covering pouring-orifices in them, and to allow dosed emptying of their contents by pouring out, especially in cans with round bases. It is precisely here that the present invention comes into play.

SUMMARY

Integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid to allow partial emptying of its contents and subsequent closing of these containers, with a detachable partial lid as integrated part of the container's lid, delimited the partial lid by a circumscribing scoring line and with a lever for the detachment of the partial lid, whereby the lever is in firm connection with the container's lid through centered riveting or similar known technique, characterized by the fact that the lever comprises a riveting end that comprises a surface of the centred riveting in the same piece, provided with a tear-off extension of the lever and presenting a fold towards the lid, the while that the opposite end disposes of a handgrip with an upper covering of the partial lid, wherein this end and the rest of the body of the lever are joint together to the surface of the lid of the container by centred riveting meanwhile the lever comprises a connection between the riveting end and the opposite end of the handgrip in a lengthways meaning, of the same peace in shape of two non-deformable lateral crosspieces before the applied force tearing off the partial lid as they dispose of longitudinal coating braces for reinforcement, die-cut in them, forming transverse folding shafts at their ends connected with the end of the handgrip, and with a partial lid disposing of two connections towards the lid of the container and comprising a non-deformable surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lever disposes of a tear-off extension, between the two non-deformable lateral crosspieces, with three free sides and the fourth in connection with the end of the hand grip, the side opposite to it having at its end a transverse and perpendicular fold towards the scoring line of the lid of the container.

According to an additional aspect of the invention, the lever disposes of an end of the hand grip as a connection to a tear-off extension and the two non-deformable lateral crosspieces, of the same piece, which has a larger diameter than the surface of the oval below it and surrounding the scoring line of the latter.

According to an additional aspect more of the invention, the lever has transverse folding shafts on the side of the tear-off extension with the connection of the end of the hand grip and the ends of the two non-deformable lateral cross pieces with the end of the hand grip.

According to another additional aspect more of the invention, the end of the handgrip of the lever disposes of a protuberance at the upper surface for a grip of the fingers during its vertical movement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the end of the handgrip of the lever disposes of a sealing washer of semi-soft material on the lower surface of the upper covering of the partial lid with a larger diameter compared to its diameter in order to achieve a tight closure.

According to an aspect more of the invention, the partial lid has a scoring line surrounding it being in fixed connection with the rest of the lid of the container through two parallel interruptions on the centered side of this line of the lid with the centered riveting that presents lateral shaft of the partial lid's fold towards its vertical position.

According to an additional aspect of the invention, the partial lid is provided with a longitudinal central brace which guarantees its non-deformability in its lifting to a vertical position by means of the force exerted on the fold of the tear-off extension to its lower surface.

According to an additional aspect more of the invention, the fold towards the lid is non-deformable due to a longitudinal brace of the fold cutting with its cutting edge of the fold the scoring line of the partial lid located between the two parallel interruptions because of a smaller width than the distance between the interruptions and due to the transverse angle with respect to the body of the lever towards the lid of the container.

According to another additional aspect more of the invention, the fold detaches and lifts the partial lid to a vertical position with its inner side by manually lifting the lever progressively with the side of the end of the hand grip to a vertical position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforesaid and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached schematic drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins, the device visibly in its new state, the lever with the end of the handgrip, the connection in form of two non-deformable side bridges and the centered riveting surface on the upper surface of the lid of the container, riveted to the lid of the container, and the partial lid to be detached,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view on a lever as a single part viewed from above, with the pivot points of the transverse folding axis of the non-deformable lateral,

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the lever, showing the fold of the same piece bent downward, the protuberance at the upper surface and the sealing washer at the lower surface of the end of the handgrip,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lid of a container, the lever being removed, visible the scoring line surrounding the partial lid with the two parallel interruptions and the location of the centered rivet,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a container with a lid viewed as a front elevation with the partial lid detached and raised by the brace of the lever,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a partial lid as a single piece seen from below, the central longitudinal brace being visible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description will be made related to the use of the integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid (1), aim of the invention, for foodstuff containers.

That however must not be interpreted as a limitation of the invention, but serve as an illustration of it as an example, as, like said before, the present device may have many more applications.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings initially observation is made that the integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with non-deformable lid (1), aim of the invention, comprises a lever (6) presenting one end provided with a tear-off extension (8) that disposes of a fold (9) towards the lid (4) whereas the other end is provided with a handgrip (10), with an upper covering of the partial lid (11) and a partial lid (3) that disposes of two connections towards the lid (4) of the container (2) and that presents a non-deformable surface.

From FIG. 1 can be taken an integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid (1), the device visibly in mint condition, the lever (6) with the end of the handgrip (10), with the connection in shape of two non-deformable lateral crosspieces (14) and with the surface of centered riveting (12) at the upper surface of the lid (4) of the container (2), riveted to the lid of the container, and the partial lid (3) before its detachment.

FIG. 2 displays a top view of a lever (6) as a component part seen from above, visible the transverse folding shafts (16) of the non-deformable lateral crosspieces (14).

Out of FIG. 3 a vertical plan of the lever (6), is perceptible, to be seen the fold (9) from the same piece bent over downwards, the protuberance (17) at the upper surface and the sealing washer (18) at the underside of the end of the handgrip (10).

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a lid (4) of a container (2) the lever (6) removed, visible the scoring line (5) surrounding the partial lid (3) with its two parallel interruptions (19) and the location of the centered riveting (7).

In FIG. 5 is a transverse section of a container (2) with a lid (4), exposed in a vertical plan with the partial lid (3) detached and raised by the fold (9) of the lever (6).

FIG. 6 shows a view in perspective of a partial lid (3) as a component part seen from below, appreciable the longitudinal central brace (21).

To use the aforementioned integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid (1) for the first time, one proceeds to detach the supposed part in the lid (4), of the container (2), tearing off manually with the end of the handgrip (10) of the lever (6) seizing the protuberance (17) on the upper surface with the fingers of one hand next pulling upwards. The fold (9) cuts with its cutting edge of the fold (23) the intended section of the scoring line (5) that surrounds the partial lid (3) between the two parallel interruptions (19).

Once the rising angle of the lever (6) matches the angle that presents the fold (9) in relation to the body of the lever its inside gets into touch with the longitudinal central brace (21) on the inside of the partial lid (3).

The progressive opening of the angle up to 180° in relation to the initial position lifts up the partial lid (3) after previous detachment at the scoring line due to the non-deformability of both the longitudinal central brace (21) of the partial lid and the longitudinal brace of the fold (22) round the lateral shaft of the partial lid's fold (20) and the transverse folding shafts (16) at the ends of the non-deformable lateral crosspieces (14) with the handgrip.

Subsequently one proceeds to achieve an inclination of the container (2) for pouring out. That way an evacuation of the container's contents up to the desired quantity is realizable.

Once the action of pouring out has been brought to an end one proceeds to the closing of the orifice in the lid (4) returning the lever (6) together with the partial lid (3) located under the end of the handgrip (10) to its initial position.

The sealing washer (18) remains joint together with the lid (4) covering with the inside of the handgrip (10) the arisen cleft between the lid detached from the lid (4) caused by the breakage of the scoring line (5) during the opening action due to a major diameter of the handgrip in relation to the one of the lid and due to the semi-soft features of the washer. The container (2) remains hermetically closed.

To realize further evacuations in first place one pulls the handgrip (10) upwards proceeding as in the previous description to its closing by returning it to its horizontal position in the opposite direction.

The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid (1), allows that way the desired or necessary openings and closings until the complete emptying of the container (2).

Obviously the use of the integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid (1), aim of the invention, for tasks other than its use for contents of foodstuff products, would be accomplished the same way as described above, by pulling the handgrip (10) upwards or downwards for opening or closing, previous action of the fold (9) of the tear-off extension (8) of the lever (6) to detach the partial lid (3) in the lid (4) by a movement from a horizontal position to a vertical one in order to handle the opening and closing device in a container (2) before its first use.

The invention has thus created an integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable lid providing several advantages, among others the following can be pointed out:

-   -   Simple structure and, as a result, easy to use.     -   Practical use due to the universality and versatility of the         application.     -   Aesthetic way of presentation, since while waiting to be used         for the first time as well as subsequently being used for the         storing of remaining unconsumed contents, the integrated device         for opening and closing of cans and tins provides an appearance         of mint condition.

The previous description has been focused on the essential features of the invention.

It is understood however that the described device could be an object of modifications in shape and structure thereof without distancing itself from the inventive achievement. It is therefore required that the scope of the latter is limited only by the contents of the attached claims. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid to allow partial emptying of its contents with subsequent closing of a container, with a partial lid detachable as an integrated part of a container's lid, of this container, delimited the partial lid by a circumscribing scoring line and with a lever for the detachment of the partial lid joint together with the lid by centered riveting, wherein the lever comprises a riveting end that comprises a surface of the centered riveting in the same piece, provided with a tear-off extension of the lever and presenting a fold towards the lid, while that the opposite end includes of a handgrip with an upper covering of the partial lid, wherein the opposite end and the rest of the body of the lever are joined together to the surface of the lid of the container by centered riveting, and the lever comprises a connection between the riveting end and the opposite end of the handgrip in a lengthways manner, of the same piece in shape of two non-deformable lateral crosspieces before the applied force tearing off the partial lid as they form longitudinal coating braces for reinforcement, with a die-cut in them, forming transverse folding shafts at their ends connected with the end of the handgrip, and with a partial lid including two connections towards the lid of the container and comprising a non-deformable surface.
 12. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the lever includes a tear-off extension between the two non-deformable lateral crosspieces with three free sides and the fourth in connection with the end of the hand grip, the side opposite to it having, at its end, a transverse and perpendicular fold towards the scoring line of the lid of the container.
 13. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the lever comprises an end of the hand grip as a connection to a tear-off extension and the two non-deformable lateral crosspieces, of the same piece, which has a larger diameter than the surface of the oval below it and surrounding the scoring line of the latter.
 14. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the lever has transverse folding shafts on the side of the tear-off extension with the connection of the end of the hand grip and the ends of the two non-deformable lateral crosspieces with the end of the hand grip.
 15. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the end of the handgrip of the lever comprises a protuberance at the upper surface for a grip of the fingers during its vertical movement.
 16. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the end of the handgrip of the lever comprises a sealing washer of semi-soft material on the lower surface of the upper covering of the partial lid with a larger diameter compared to its diameter in order to achieve a tight closure.
 17. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the partial lid has a scoring line surrounding it being in fixed connection with the rest of the lid of the container through two parallel interruptions on the centered side of this line of the lid with the centered riveting that presents lateral shaft of the partial lid's fold towards its vertical position.
 18. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the partial lid is provided with a longitudinal central brace which guarantees its non-deformability in its lifting to a vertical position by means of the force exerted on the fold of the tear-off extension to its lower surface.
 19. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, wherein the fold towards the lid is non-deformable due to a longitudinal brace of the fold cutting with its cutting edge of the fold the scoring line of the partial lid located between the two parallel interruptions because of a smaller width than the distance between the interruptions and due to the transverse angle with respect to the body of the lever towards the lid of the container.
 20. The integrated device for opening and closing of cans and tins with a non-deformable partial lid, according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the fold detaches and lifts the partial lid to a vertical position with its inner side by manually lifting the lever progressively with the side of the end of the hand grip to a vertical position. 